Drum practice pad

ABSTRACT

A drum practice pad having a solid base portion of relatively hard material into which a circular pad of soft gum rubber is recessed to a depth approximately equal to one-half of the thickness of said rubber, said base portion being of a diameter to permit it to fit on a head of a drum inside the rim thereof but without touching the rim, thereby to permit said base to be supported on the head of the drum or independently on a drum stand or other support. A drummer may practice with drumsticks on that side of the base portion into which said rubber pad is recessed or with drum brushes on the opposite side.

United States Patent Henry S. Andrews [72] inventor 1121 S.E. LincolnStreet, Portland, Oreg. 97214 [21] Appl. No. 834,751 I [22] Filed June19,1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [54] DRUM PRACTICE PAD 3,113,48012/1963 Giarratano 3,186,290 6/1965 Gouldetal.

ABSTRACT: A drum practice pad having a solid base portion of relativelyhard material into which a circular pad of soft gum rubber is recessedto a depth approximately equal to onehalf of the thickness of saidrubber. said base portion being of a diameter to permit it to fit on ahead of a drum inside the rim thereof but without touching the rim,thereby to permit said base to be supported on the head of the drum orindependently on a drum stand or other support. A drummer may practicewith drumsticks on that side of the base portion into which said rubberpad is recessed or with drum brushes on the opposite side.

PATENTED AUG 3l97| 3, 597,520

HENRY S. ANDREWS lNVE/VTOI? BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAWOU/ST 8 SPAR/(MANATTORNEYS DRUM PRACTICE PAID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to drum practice pads which may be positioned either directly onthe head of the drum or independently upon a drum stand or othersupport.

A problem which has confronted both drum instructors and students alikehas been that of providing means to reduce the noise level ofapracticing student so as not to disturb those in the vicinity while heis improving his skills.

As such, a number of drum practice pads have been developed, but nonehas been particularly satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF Til-IE INVENTION The drum practice pad of the presentinvention is capable of being supported either directly on the drumheador independently on a drum stand or other support. It comprises a baseportion of relatively hard material substantially in the form of a flatcircular cylinder having playing surfaces normal to its axis. Thediameter of the base portion is substantially equal to the innerdiameter of the drumhead on which the practice pad may be supported,thereby to permit the pad to be seated on the drumhead inside the rimthereof without touching the rim.

A circular pad of relatively soft resilient material such as pure gumrubber and of a diameter less than the diameter of the base portion isrecessed into one of the playing surfaces thereof to a depthapproximately equal to one-half of the thickness of the rubber pad. Theresulting structure permits a drummer to practice with drumsticks onthat side of the drum practice pad into which the soft resilient pad isrecessed, or he need only turn the pad over to be able to practice withdrum brushes on the opposite side.

The drum practice pad of the present invention is superior insensitivity, endurance, and in its ability to help every drummer. It hasthe natural feel of the drum, providing the drummer with neither anoverreaction nor an underreaction from the natural feel. Since it isapproximately the size ofthe drum itself, it gives the student theability to practice natural presswork. it permits the student topractice with either drumsticks or brushes.

The pad permits use either directly upon the head of the drum orindependently upon a regular drum stand and will fit all regular snarestands. It remains firm even on glass surfaces. Furthermore, iteliminates the difficulty of having to carry complicated stands aroundand to make numerous adjustments.

Since the base portion is slightly smaller than the inner diameter ofthe drumhead, clearing the rim thereof, it will permit the natural soundof the drum to come through in practice, whether the pad is used on asnare drum or on a tom-tom, and irrespective of whether the student ispracticing with drum sticks on the rubber side or on the opposite sidewith brushes.

The fact that the soft rubber pad is inset or recessed into the baseportion provides better tone. Since approximately onehalf of thethickness of the rubber pad extends above the surface of the baseportion, the pad of the present invention also permits the drummer toachieve the same feel as he would if he were practicing a rim shot on aregular snare drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view ofa drumpractice pad made in accordance with the present invention positioned onthe head ofa snare drum.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing use ofthe padwith drumsticks on the rubber side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing use ofthe pad with drumbrushes on the opposite side thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view of the pad supported independently on a drum stand.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, thedrum practice pad 10 of the present invention is illustrated inconnection with a standard 14-inch snare drum 111, although the pad canbe made to fit any size drum including tom-toms and base drums from 18inches through 22 inches in size.

As such, the pad 10 includes a solid base portion 112 preferably made offive-layer cross grain plywood of the highest quality. The base portion12 is substantially in the form of a flat circular cylinder having upperand lower surfaces normal to its axis. For the l4 inch snare drumillustrated, the base portion 112 is preferably made 13% inches indiameter and three-fourths inch in thickness or height. A l3 /z-inchdiameter is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the drumhead;that is, it is substantially equal to the diameter across the drumheadin between the rim 13 thereof. Thus the base portion 12 may bepositioned on the drumhead 14 to be seated thereon inside the rim 13thereof, but it is of such a size that it will not touch the rim. In thecase ofsnare drums having a turned-in rim ofstandard Ai-inch thickness,the pad 10 of the present invention will just fit inside the rim. Sincethe base portion 112 is thus slightly smaller than the inner diameter ofthe drumhead, it permits the natural sound of the drum to come throughin practice.

As shown, the Winch thickness or height of the base portion i2 is only asmall fraction ofits diameter. Making the base portion V4. inch thickfor a 13 /-inch diameter provides an optimum proportion for the pad 10.If the base portion were thicker than this, it would lose too much ofthe sound; if it were appreciably thinner, it would lose the solid feel.

The base portion 12 when made of plywood may be finished in a woodfinish, as by being stained, varnished, enameled or painted, or it maybe provided with a plastic-coated finish. If desired, the base portion12 may be constructed from plastic material, such as an A-B-S plastic,or from an acrylic or resin type of plastic, in which case the baseportion 12 is made according to the same size specifications as in thecase of a plywood base with the exception that the finish is, of course,compatible with the type of plastic used for its construction.

A circular pad 15 of relatively soft resilient material, preferably puregum rubber, is inset or recessed into one of the playing surfaces 16 ofthe base portion 12 to a depth approximately equal to one-half thethickness of the pad 15. The pad 115 is centered in the base portion 12to a depth approximately equal to one-half the thickness of the pad 15.The pad 15 is centered in the base portion 12 and is cemented thereto.In the case ofa base portion of l3 /2-inch diameter suitable for usewith a 14-inch diameter drum, the rubber pad 15 is preferably made 12inches in diameter and A inch thick and is inset or recessed into thesurface 16 of the base portion 12 to a depth of one-eighth inch. Thus,the diameter of the rubber pad 115 is less than the diameter of the baseportion 12, and its thickness is substantially less than the thicknessor height of the base portion. Recessing the rubber pad 15 into the baseportion 112 provides a better tone, yet permits enough of the thicknessthereof to extend above the surface 16 to permit the drummer to obtainthe same feel" as he would if he were practicing on a regular snaredrum.

In use, the pad 10 is placed directly on the drum 1] or it can be usedindependently by being placed directly on the snare drum stand 117 or onany flat surface. It is struck with the drumsticks on the rubber sideand with drum brushes on the opposite side.

When the pad 10 is being used on the drumhead 114, with the rubber sideup, the snare should be loosened slightly more than in usual playing.This will permit the pad 10 to permit some of the natural sound of thesnare drum to come through. For practicing with brushes, the pad 10 needonly be turned over and placed on the head of the drum with the rubberside down. Since the base portion 12 does not touch the rim 13, thedrummer can actually hear his brushwork through the drum.

lclaim:

l. A drum practice pad capable of being supported on the head of a drumor independently on a drum stand or other support, comprising:

a solid base portion substantially in the form of a flat circularcylinder and made of relatively hard material,

the diameter of said base portion being substantially equal to the innerdiameter of said drumhead to permit said base portion to be seated onsaid drumhead inside the rim thereof without touching said rim,

the height of said base portion being a small fraction of its diameter,

the upper and lower surfaces of said base portion being normal to itsaxis and defining playing surfaces for practicing a drum type of musicalinstrument, and

a circular pad of relatively soft resilient material,

said soft resilient pad being of a diameter less than said diameter ofsaid base portion, said soft resilient pad being of a uniform thicknesssubstantially less than said height of said base portion, said softresilient pad being recessed into one of said playing surfaces of saidbase portion to a depth approximately equal to one-half of the thicknessof said soft resilient pad, whereby a drummer may practice withdrumsticks on that side of said drum practice pad into which said softresilient pad is recessed or by turning said practice pad over, withdrum brushes on the opposite side.

1. A drum practice pad capable of being supported on the head of a drumor independently on a drum stand or other support, comprising: a solidbase portion substantially in the form of a flat circular cylinder andmade of relatively hard material, the diameter of said base portionbeing substantially equal to the inner diameter of said drumhead topermit said base portion to be seated on said drumhead inside the rimthereof without touching said rim, the height of said base portion beinga small fraction of its diameter, the upper and lower surfaces of saidbase portion being normal to its axis and defining playing surfaces forpracticing a drum type of musical instrument, and a circular pad ofrelatively soft resilient material, said soft resilient pad being of adiameter less than said diameter of said base portion, said softresilient pad being of a uniform thickness substantially less than saidheight of said base portion, said soft resilient pad being recessed intoone of said playing surfaces of said base portion to a depthapproximately equal to one-half of the thickness of said soft resilientpad, whereby a drummer may practice with drumsticks on that side of saiddrum practice pad into which said soft resilient pad is recessed or byturning said practice pad over, with drum brushes on the opposite side.